Appaeatus



, @emblem @aan @from IMPROVEMENT IN OYSIBR-DREDGING APPARATUS.

Be it known that I, WILLIAM BELBIN, of Baltimore, in the county ofBaltimore, and State of Maryland, have invented a new and improvedApparatus for Dredging Oysters, and I do hereby declare the following tobe a'full, clear, and exact description of the same, suiicient to enableone skilled in the art to which the invention appertains t0 make use ofit, reference being had to the accompanying drawings which form a partof this specication, and in which- Figure l is a longitudinal section.

Figure 2 is a plan.

Figure 3 is a rear elevation.

A lever is mounted on a pivoted davit which is reared from the gunwaleof the boat; the outer end ofthe lever is hooked to the frame of thedredge, which is lifted over the roller on the gunwale by the depressionof the lever. A roller on the post of the davit and a flange on theroller assist in landing the dredge when the frame comes in contact withthe davit or tends to run oli' the roller; an additional bow is providedto the dredge frame by which it is suspended from the davit. I

In thedrawings, A is the gunwale of the boat, having a roller, B,mounted thereon to save friction and wear of the rope C, which passesfrom the winch D to the frame E ofthe dredge ,bag F.

Reared upon the gunwale A, and pivoted thereto so as to rotate in ahorizontal plane, is the davit G, supported by the stay, g, upon whichis pivoted the lever, H, which, when raising the dredge' over thegunwale, is connected by a hook with the bow, I, of the dredge frame;this bow causes the dredge to swing in better position than ifsuspended-by the jaws of the frame.

Upon the end of `the roller, B, is a flange, b, which prevents the rods,e, of the-frame, E, from running oi the roller; and the post of thedavit, G, has a roller, g, which eases the rope or rods along if theyrub against it, and thereby assists in hauling in and getting the dredgeaboard.

The dredge is made of rings or links suitable for withstanding thehardship of the duty, and loose rings in pairs on its outer surface forma convenient mode of handling to upset and tumble out the contents.

The rope J, attached to the frame, is for the purpose of loosening andraising the dredge if it becomes hitched to a rock. I

The operation. o f the apparatus consists in raising it over thegunwale, casting itvloose, and after dredging raising it to the surfaceand lifting it aboard; the improvements, consisting of the davit and itsroller, the extra bow on the dredge frame, the ilange on the gunwaleroller, rlhave been described. l p

I do not claim the frame E, or the dredge bag F, lor, the-roller B;neither do I claim their combination., broadly considered, as I amvaware that these devices have `long been known and employed.

Having described my invention, what I claim therein as new, and desireto secure by Letters Patent, is-

1. The davit, G, pivoted upon the gunwale and provided with a lever bywhich the dredge is raised, sub stantially as described. i

2. The auxiliary bow, I, of the dredge.

3. The ange in the gunwale roller.

4. The roller, or sleeve e, on the post of the davit.

WILLIAM BELBIN.-

Witnesses:

SOL. J. MAILnoA'r,

Gao. Sums.

